Slam Dunk Read Free

couldn’t start dribbling again.
    Julian went head-to-head against the red-haired newbie, who introduced himself as Len. Julian started to dribble, but Len had quick hands and swiped the ball away almost immediately. On his second try, Julian held on to the ball a little longer. Len reached in to flick it away for the second time. Julian, without thinking, clutched the ball in both hands, meaning that he’d picked up his dribble. Julian winced as Coach Valenti blew his whistle.
    “Switch to defense, Julian,” said the coach. “Maybe you can get it back.”
    But Len shielded the ball with his body, and when Julian tried to reach around him, Len whirled past him toward the basket and took an easy layup. When Len took the ball from the coach for a second time, Julian gave the other boy more room, staying a few feet away. Len didn’t try to get around Julian, but Julian didn’t come close to getting the ball, either. Finally, Julian leaned forward, blocked Len with his body, and snatched at the ball, but the coach whistled play to a halt.
    “That’s a blocking foul,” he said to Julian. “You were all over him. Come on, you know better than that. On defense, you have to use your
feet.
”
    Julian’s face turned hot, and he knew that he was blushing. He wasn’t used to being talked to like that by Coach Valenti. He felt humiliated, and he resented Len for showing him up.
    “Okay, let’s have two more guys out there,” said the coach. Julian moved stiffly to the sidelines and glared out at the court.
    How come the coach got on my case like that?
he wondered.
This isn’t a game. It isn’t even an important practice session. It’s the first day, that’s all!
    Okay,
Julian admitted to himself,
I didn’t hustle. But Coach Valenti knows I’ll be there when it’s crunch time!
    In this angry frame of mind, Julian watched the rest of the team go through the drill. He wasn’t impressed by what he saw. This bunch wasn’t anywhere near as good as the Tornadoes of last season. He was going to have to carry them on his back, and they would probably lose anyway.
    And what was the deal with Grady? The point guard kept on talking it up, clapping his hands, being a cheerleader. What for? Julian found his mood getting worse and worse. As practice continued, Julian’s performance became less and less energetic.
    When the session ended, the coach spoke to the team, sounding surprisingly cheerful and optimistic. Julian was startled at first but decided that the coach had to give the impression that everything was going well, even when it clearly wasn’t.
    “Okay,” Coach Valenti said, “I think we have the makings of a solid team here. See you all tomorrow, same time, same place.”
    As the Tornadoes headed for the locker room, Julian hung back, unwilling to join in the talking and joking of his teammates. Grady came over to him.
    “Listen, a few guys are going to get something to eat and hang out. Want to come?”
    Julian shook his head. “I better not. I have a lot to do at home. See you tomorrow.”
    “You sure?” Grady asked. “Come on, just for a little while.”
    “I told you,” replied Julian, trying not to sound grumpy, “I can’t today.”
    Grady nodded. “Listen, maybe I’ll give you a call later, all right?”
    “Yeah, sure,” Julian said, hoping nobody else would try to talk to him. He just didn’t feel like it.
    He changed clothes in the locker room and slowly walked home alone. What had happened in the last few hours? He’d arrived at the gym really pumped, ready to get working, eager for what he was sure would be a good season. Now everything was ruined. The team was going to be no better than ordinary, and maybe worse. Most of his teammates were strangers, and he wasn’t looking forward to spending a lot of time with them, or to going through a lot of tiring, boring workouts. Was there anything he could do to make it better?
    At the moment, it didn’t seem as if there was.

3
    E arth to